Fluid dispensing system



R; E. BECHTOLD 1 2,164,441' FLUID DISP Jul 4, 1939.

ENSING SYSTEM Filed Feb. 12, 1938 v mvs'm'on E. BECHFOLD.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 4, 1939 i v Reuben E.

by mesne assignmen 7 rwm'msrsnsmc SYSTEM Bechtold, Fog zaysne, mu, assignor, Company, Incorporated, corporation of Indiana F. Bowser and Fort Wayne, Ind., a

Application February 12,1938, Serial No. 190,158

This invention relates to a "liquiddispensing system particularly adapted for use in gasoline pumps wherein the liquid or gasoline is metered as it is dispensed.

The object of the invention is, to provide a simplified flow system embodying a. liquid meter for metering the liquid dispensed, an air eliminator system associated therewith, apump for forcing the liquid under pressure through said system, and pressure control valves for controlling the flow of liquid and air elimination.

'One feature of the invention resides in the provision of a pressure regulating valve in theflow line between, and spaced from, the meter' and dispensing nozzlefor preventing dispensing of the liquid from the meter until sufficient liq uid pressure is built up therein to eliminate accumulated or entrapped air, and'wherein said valve is controlled by the difference in pressure between. the meter receiving chamber and the atmosphere Another feature of the invention resides inproviding the meter receiving chamber with a restricted, gas and liquid vent in the top-cover thereof which may be provided with a valve controlling the same, whereby any air enteringthe meter chamber will be directly expelled therefrom and notmetered.

A'further featureof the invention consists in providing a unitary structure embodying the pump, air eliminating float chamber, and by? pass valve.

A further feature of the intention resides in providing in combination with the pressure regulating valve a positive means in the form of a check valve for preventing back flow of the liquid from the flow line as the pressure in the regulating valve drops before it .is completely closed. This condition normally occurs during the coasting of the pump from full speed to idleness.

Still a further feature of the invention resides in the provision of a liquid and gas return linei discharging into .thefloat chamber below the liquid level thereof.

The construction, functioning and purpose of the above features will be hereinafter more fully set forth. and described.

The full nature of the invention will be unde'r stood from the accompanying drawing and the following description and claims:

Fig. iis a diagrammatical illustration of the system showing partsthereoi in central vertical section. Fig. 2 1s an enlarged view showing a central vertical section through the valve con- 7 Claims. .(ci. 221-95) trolle'd gas and liquid vent from the meter receiving chamber. Fig. 3 is a modified form illustrating the gas and liquid vent without a valve therein. 7

In the drawing there is illustrated a liquid dispensing system embodying a liquid storage tank A; and a housing B containing a pump, an air separating float chamber; and a spring-restrained by-pass valve for said pump. Connected therewith there is a housing C embodying a liquid meter'for metering the liquid dispensed. Between the meter housing C and the discharge nozzle the're is a housing D containing a springrestrained regulating valve. e

The housing B contains a rotary pump "I of the usualwell known character, which may be rotated by the usual electric motor receiving energy from a source of current and controlled by the usual switch, not shown, as well understood in the art. Associated with said pump there is provided a by-pass valve head I mounted upon a valve stem 3 having at the Opposite end thereof a piston or plunger 4 which reciprocates in a cylinder 5. Between the head 2 and the cylinder 5 there is provided a. restraining spring 6 for normally holding the valve head in closed posi-. tion for closing the valve port 1. The valve port I provides communication between the pressure and suction chambers of the pump. The. underside of the piston or plunger 4 is in communication with the pressure chamber of .the pump,

whereas the opposite side thereof is open to the atmosphere. Thus, upon the pressure of liquid in the pressure chamber of the pump being sumcient to overcome the tension of the spring 6 throughthe pressure applied thereby to the underside of the piston l, the valve head 2 will be lifted from its seat to open the valve port I and permit the liquid to be by-passed from the pressure chamber to the suction. chamber. This is for the purpose of preventing stalling of the motor when the flow of liquid from the system is discontinued. e

Also provided in the pump housing B there is an air eliminating float chamber 8 in which the float '9 is suitably mounted to raise and lower the valve stem ill. 'The valve stem l0, when the float is in its lowered position due to a low level of liquid contained insaid chamber, closes a port between the float chamber and conduit II, the conduit communicating with the'suction side-of the pumps and the suction conduit or line l2 The float chamber. 8 is provided with an air vent -leading from the bottom of the storage tank A.

.scribed in Letters Patent to Bechtold No. 0,-

g 22 for controlling a plurality of pistons or valve body or atmosphere through a nozzle support I.

The meter housing C includes a cylinder casting I5 and a cover casting l6 secured thereto. Secured to the cover casting l6 there is a flanged connection II to which a liquid supply conduit plungers operating in cylinders formed in the casting IS, the ports of which are controlled by a sliding valve, which in turn is controlled by the wabble plate through which the meter registering mechanism is actuated. The mechanism of said meter is of the same character and operates in the same manner 2,021,882, issued November 26, 1935, entitled Meter for liquids", and also as shown and de- 438, issued October penser;

The valve controlled gas and liquid vent from the meter receiving chamber comprises a valve nipple l3 secured within the boss 20 of the meter housing cover Hi, and extending from the top thereof.

Movably mounted within the nipple there is a valve 2| adapted to seat upon the valve seat the passage of gas and liquid from the meter receiving chamber. The stem of said valve is provided with a flange 23 forming a piston or plunger like surface such as to be engaged by up-surging gas or liquid for lifting the valve into seated position against the 10, 1933, entitled Liquid disholds the valve 2| in open position but permits it to be moved to seated position when the surging pressure of the liquid exerted on the plunger overcomes the tension of the spring. A small notch indicated at 22' is providedin the seat 22 for providing a small restricted passageway for the escape of liquid and gas through the valve port when the valve 2| is in seated position. The nipple I9 is connected with the 25 for conveying escaping gas to the float chamber 8 in the pump housing B. It is to be noted that said return conduit 25 communicates with the float chamber 8 at a position below the liquid level in said float chamber as controlled by the float 9, thus providing a liquid seal to prevent back return conduit and liquid back flow of gas or air into the meter receiving chamber, and thereby prevent draining of the meter receiving chamber.

The meter housing C is provided with a main discharge port to which main flow conduit 26. Thus, "'2 fluid received in the meter receiving chamber is forced by the pressure exerted by the pump I through a port opened by the meter slide valve to fill the metering cylinder. The plunger actuating force is produced by the pressure of the liquid on top of the respective plungers, forcing them downwardly to expel the predetermined quantity of liquid with which the cylinder has been filled. When the valve move to the opposite position, the port will be closed to the receiving chamber, but open to the main outlet leading into the flow conduit 26 through which such predetermined quantity Thus, the spring 24 normally is connected with the 7 2,164,441 in the form of a conduit or pipe l3 leading to the of liquid is discharged upon the piston or plunger moving to its lowermost position in the cylind r.

The flow through said main conduit 26 is controlled by a regulating valve 21 adapted to open and close a port in saidvconduit positioned between the meter and the discharge nozzle, and

spaced therefrom. Said valve is controlled by mechanism contained in the housing D comprising a valve stem 28 extending therein upon one end of which there is provided a piston or plunger 29 movable in the cylinder '30 formed in said housing. The housing encloses a pressure chamber 3| in communication with said cylinder. Spaced from the piston 29 on the stem 28 there is a collar 32 secured thereon. A restraining spring 33 has one end bearing upon the collar 32 and the other end upon a spring retaining ring 34 extending into the chamber 3| and positioned at the lower end of the cylinder 30. The chamber 3| is closed at its bottom by a plate 35 through which the stem 28 slides so that the pressure in said chamber is not communicated to the flow conduit 26.

The chamber 3| is connected by a conduit 36 to the upper portion of the meter housing cover "5 so that the meter receiving chamber is in communication therewith below the piston 29. A conduit 31 connects the upper end of the cylinder 30 on the opposite side of the piston 29 with the atmosphere through the conduit 25, float chamber 8 and conduit I3. Thus, atmospheric pressure is exerted on the upper side of the piston and the pressure in the meter receiving chamber exerted on the lower side thereof. When the pressure in the meter chamberrises by the action of the pump to overcomethe atmospheric pressure and the tension of the spring 33, the valve 21 opens and permits flow of metered liquid through the conduit 26.

Also positioned in said flow conduit 26 between the pressure in the regulating valve is dropping due to the coasting of the pump from full speed to idle position. v

The operation of the system may be described as follows:

When idle, the various valves are in the position shown in the drawing, all closed with'the exception of the gas vent valve 2| which is normally open. Upon starting the motor to dispense the liquid, pressure will be developed by the pump in the pressure chamber of the pump. Liquid will be forced into the meter 0. When the chamber of the meter C is filled with liquid, the continued pumping action will exert a pressure thereon which will cause the liquid to surge past the flange 23 on stem of valve 2| and through the valve seat 22 in the nipple l9 and be returned through the conduit 25 to the float chamber 8. Thus, the accumulated gas or air in the meter chamber will be forced therefrom and discharged to the atmosphere from the float chamber through the conduit |3. Thissurging action of the liquid, however, will lift the valve 2| so that it will seat and thereby restrict the passageway through the valve seat 22 to the reduced orifice provided by the notch formed of appreciable'quantities of liquid therethrough to be returned to the float chamber, but will permit the tree escape of any air or gas entrapped in the liquid, together with a small amount or liquid carried. thereby. The liquid pressure built up in the meter will be transmitted to the regulating valve D through the con-' the valve.2'| from its seat and thereby open the flow line 26 from the meter nozzle valve ll still duit 36 so as toraise to the nozzle. Assuming the remains closed so that no liquid is being dispensed while the pump I continues to operate, further pressure in the system will cause the by-pass valve2 to be lifted from its seat so that ,the liquid will merely be by-passed about the pump, thus limiting the maximum liquid pressure in the system.

Upon opening of thenozzle valve H for dispensing, the pressure in the system will cause the liquid to pass through the meter, operating the meter to measure it and recordthe quantity of liquid passing therethrough in theusual manner. The liquid passing through the meter is free to pass through the flow line 26, past the open regulating valve 21 and the checkvalve 38. During this actionthe pressure of liquid in the meter chamber will hold the valve 2! in its seated position, but any entrapped air will continue to escape through the reduced opening provided by the notch in the valve seat 22. This air and liquid or vapor carried thereby will be returned to the float chamber and there separated so that .the air will be carried oil through the air. vent l3 while the liquid accumulates until it reaches the float's, opening the float valve to permit it to be drawn back in the suction chamber. 01 the pump. The valve 2| also permits freedom of expansion or contraction: of the liquid during periods or idleness by reason of it being open to the atmosphere through the float chamber and air vent conduit l3. Y

As shown in the modifled form of Fig. 3, the same restricted air peway is employedbut without the valve tor further restricting it, the

only purpose of the valve being to limit or remeter receiving chamber duce the 'flow of gas and liquid when the meter chamber is under liquid pressure, whereby slight 1y less ll uid need be pumped into the meter to obtain the same quantity of liquid material thereby.

It is to be noted that in dispensing systems heretofore employed, wherein the air separator precedes the meter or its receiving chamber,:las disclosed in the Bechtold Patents No. 1,826,340, issued October 6, 1931, and No. 1,868,444, issued July 19, 1932, it is possible under severe conditions that a certain amount or air will be carthere is no provision for escape of air from the as escapes thereto will pass through the meter and affect the accuracy-of the liquid measure. It was proposed to avoid this condition by the' structure shown in Bechtold Patent No. 1,930,438, wherein the meter chamber is'open to the air separator. mentxlies inthe fact from the meter chamber is not suniciently restricted and the check valve in the discharge outlet is insufllcient to maintain a pressure to force the entrapped air from the liquid. The system herein disclosed is an including a storage tank.

. nozzle; a liquid meter in of said system, such air' The obiectionto-such an arrange-- that the passage leading improvement 7 upon the above-mentioned systems and is designed to build up the required pressure for' eliminating I whereby the pressure thus built up in the meter willi'orcibly eliminate entrapped air.

The invention claimed is: J

-1. A liquid dispensing sstem having a flow line including a storage tank, a discharge nozzle, a pump for forcing liquid from the tank to the nozzle, a liquid meter in said flow line between the pump and. nozzle having a liquid receiving chamber provided with a restricted passageway in the top thereof, a float chamber associated with said pump having a float controlled port communicating with the suction air,vent conduit leading from the top of said float chamber open to the atmosphere, and a to said float chamber below the float controlled liquid level thereof.

2. A liquid dispensing system having a flow line a discharge nomle, a pump for forcing liquid the pump and nozzle having a liquid receiving chamber provided with a restricted passageway in the top thereof, a float chamber associated with said pump having communicating with the air vent conduit leading from the top of said from the tank tothe said flow line between side thereof, an

conduit leading from said restrictedpassageway a float controlled port suction side thereof, an

float chamber open tothe atmosphere, a conduit leading from said restricted passageway to said float chamber below the float controlled liquid level thereof, a valve housing spaced from said meter chamber, and a valve in said housing controlling the-passage of liquid from said meter chamber to the nozzle controlled by the liquid pressure in said chamber.

3. A liquid dispensing line including a storage tank, a discharge nozzle, a pump for forcing-liquid from the tank to the nozzle, a liquid meter in said flow line between the pump and nozzle having a liquid receiving chamber provided with a restricted passageway in the top thereof, afloat chamber asystem having a flowv sociated with said pump having a float controlled f port communicating with the suction side thereof an'air vent conduit leading Irom the top of said float chamber open to the atmosphere, a conduit leading from said restricted passageway to said float chamber 7 liquid level thereof, and a choke valve in said restricted eway actuated by the flow of liquid therethrou'gh for varying the efiective area illiquid dispensing-system a storage tank, a housing containing a. pump. a spring ried from the separator into the meter. Since pipe leading from the top of said chamber tothe housing spaced from said atmosphere, a meter housing having: metering mechanism therein, a conduit connecting the pressure side of said Pump with the top of the meter housing, a conduit connected with the bottom of said meter housing. for discharge of metered liquid, a housing spaced from said, meter housing having'a regulating valve therein for controlling the flow below the float controlled an air and a liquid and gas escape conduit leadan air separating chamberin said 2,164,441 of liquid through said discharge conduit, and

pump housing having a float controlled passageway in communication with said suction side 01' said pump, an air chamber to'the atmosphere, a meter housing conduit.

7. A liquid dispensing system having a pump housing provided with a pump therein, a liquid REUBEN E. BECHTOLD. 

